Keepers Cottage

The cottage was lovely, well presented, well equipped, clean & comfortable with a lovely view and sounds of donkeys braying.

The rating of the comfort of the cottage was let down slightly by the beds & bed linen. However, the actual site/holiday village was very scruffy, and run down, which was unfortunate because the majority of the cottages, were as far as we could see, very well presented. We did, however, enjoy ourselves.

On the whole we were very happy with our accommodation.

It was comfortable, fairly spacious and well located. Its proximity to the Donkey Sanctuary with its excellent cafe is a bonus, and Sidmouth and the rest of the East Devon coast is close by too. The beds and sofa were comfortable (some places really cheap out on the twin beds but that wasn’t the case here, they were very comfortable) and it was reasonably well equipped. It could do with some shelving in the bathroom, and the freezer didn’t look like it had been cleaned in a while, but everywhere else was perfectly clean, presentable and in good order. Certainly no unpleasant surprises. You do have a little view of the sea, and a terrace at the front. I’d recommend bringing your own comfy garden chairs if you planned on using it.

We found the property as we expected and as described.

It was very clean throughout. The views from the lounge were beautiful and we enjoyed watching the swallows swooping all around the area and the little rabbit having a nibble on the grass outside. If we wanted to find anything that could be improved it would be the shower which was very high up on the tiles and couldn’t be adjusted. The water did seep out under the glass which I wasn’t aware of until I stepped out. Great to have a fan in the heatwave. Thank you for the welcome tray, which was appreciated.

Keepers Cottage was perfect for us as 4 adults a 7 month old and a dog.

Very clean, comfy beds and everything we needed for our stay. Easy access for the Donkey Sanctuary ( amazing breakfasts). Sidmouth is a quaint little town and only a few minutes in the car. Great communication with the owner with helpful advice…we would love to return in the future. No facilities as stated on the listing…nearest shop in Sidford is a couple of minutes away by car.

The cottage was excellent, very clean, well furnished with every essential needed.

A credit to the owner. Great sea views but we had to struggle to take our cases to the only door, which was about 45 metres from the car parking allotted space, difficult to say the least as I am disabled. The description by Sykes was very misleading, the way the photos and brief were explained suggested that the property is either detached / semi - detached; not so. It was part of a seven block building set in a U shape, four facing the sea and three in the legs of the U. The grounds of the site were poorly maintained, the open spaces only mowed were just in front of the patio with the rest of the field inaccessible due to the lack of grass cutting, and with some of the buildings appearing derelict. Only seven of the units occupied, I expect due to the difficulty in accessing the grounds and it’s unkempt condition.

Lovely weekend at Keepers Cottage Very nice accommodation spotlessly clean, comfortable beds and piping hot water!

We stayed on a very wet and windy weekend in January and we were thinking how lovely it would be in the summer sat out on the patio with the sea view, with this in mind we are plotting our return!

We have stayed at a few of the properties at this holiday park, Keepers is excellently presented, great views of the sea directly from the lounge.

The beds are very comfortable. The kitchen is well set out and spacious. The bathroom is warm with the heated towel rail. The only slight improvement I would suggest is having a concrete path to the steps to avoid the need to carry luggage etc. across the grass. The path stops short either side of the property. Even with this, we will be back, Keepers is an excellent holiday let and Sykes make the booking process easy, great communication from Sykes all through the build up to our stay.

Unfortunately we had to cut our stay short as my daughter had an accident.

She fell whilst getting into shower. We would recommend that a wall hand rail would be useful in the bathroom to steady oneself getting into bath. My daughter is disabled but on a previous visit we didn't have any issues. Other than that nice place.

Lovely accommodation perfectly placed for the donkey sanctuary which we loved thank you for the welcoming gift.

Very comfortable and satisfactory in a lovely location.

Hope to return next year.

We stayed at Keepers Cottage at the end of summer and found the accommodation to be pleasant and comfortable.

The location was ideal, perfect for exploring Sidmouth and Lyme Regis, with Exmouth’s sandy beach just a short drive away. While the cottage itself met our needs, we did feel that some areas could have been a little cleaner. Additionally, the surrounding site was somewhat disappointing, with overgrown grass and a derelict building nearby, which detracted from the overall setting.

Lovely peaceful holiday.

Great view . Accommodation had everything we needed. We will be back

it was everthing we wanted, including milk and biscuits provided which was very welcome, unfortunately the site is looking very tired with we intend to return this year if possible.

Had a lovely stay properly clean and tidy.

It was nice when I arrived to find some milk and biscuits always a nice welcome after a long journey. Will be stopping again

Keepers Cottage was a wonderful place to stay for our week in Sidmouth.

It is warm, clean with everything you need for a self catering stay. The WiFi is a tad flaky at times, but this is probably due to infrastructure and being a lo g way from the exchange , but was OK most of the time, which was a great bonus. Cannot fault this place to stay at all.

Need outside space improving.

Pathway needed to bungalow..

We had a lovely comfortable stay, couldn't fault the lodge at all.

Very clean, modern and bright. Easy to park, just a bit awkward loading & unloading because of access to the door and the site a little tired. Loved the Donkey sanctuary and amazing breakfasts! Will definitely come again

Keepers Cottage was just as it was described the view was amazing.

Unfortunately the site it's self was very neglected which took away how beautiful the cottage was. Apart from the site we still enjoyed our stay at Keepers Cottage

We were very impressed by the standard of accommodation that suited our requirement for first time away with our dog.

Minor comments below: We found the distance from the allocated parking to the property entrance door quite considerable given the amount we needed to bring in. Not just a couple of suitcases! Maybe arrangement on arrival and departure to drive round and park by property entrance. The site could do with a dog waste disposal bin as the bins in the Donkey Sanctuary walks are only accessible when the walks gates are open after 09:00 We were confused regarding instruction of rubbish disposal. Water flow from shower head poor, does not match flow from bath tap which was good. Maybe new hose and shower head or could it be the diverted valve in tap? On the TV hand contol on/off button, there seems to be a considerable delay (10-15 seconds) for the set to come on. Might be worth advising this in the property guide. On our arrival we found the hand control battery compartment cover missing.

Site needs some serious work as roads and grass areas scruffy .

The closed reception and pool/ restaurant looks very tatty and needs a serious update . Though the donkey sanctuary surrounding the site is a bonus .

Fabulous little place.

..ideal for 2 of us with a dog. Great walks to beach and Branscombe despite muddy paths

We had a good holiday [if wet] and Keepers Cottage was really nice and had all that we needed.

It was clean and comfortable. Sadly the surroundings were disappointing as the road and path structure on the site were very poor we had to walk through mud or long grass to get in and out of the cottage. We were thankful for the advice on the website of previous guests who passed their cases from the car park area through the bedroom window!

Everything was lovely - with a very helpful selection of provisions on our arrival.

The rooms warmed up quickly and we were very cosy for the times we spent in the property. Lovely view of the sea and the main room was comfortable and light. A few plates and some of the cutlery required a wash, but possibly from not being cleaned properly in the dishwasher which we didn't use.

High quality accommodation - we had a lot of rain and Path a bit muddy - but not a problem.

A very comfortable, roomy, warm, nicely furnished and well equiiped bungalow.

The beds were very comfortable but the pillows too firm. We always take our own pillows with us on holiday, so that was not a problem for us. The bungalow is located in a corner of the site and is not overlooked. It is within a block of 6 - hence there are neighbours both sides - but we were lucky because those were both vacant. The car park is at the rear of the propery and to access the front entrance you have to walk down the side of the building which was muddy grass and through long wet grass to reach the steps and door. We avoided dragging our luggage through it by reversing the car to a bedroom window and passing all our stuff through it. The place would not be suitable for those with mobility problems. However - we thoroughly enjoyed our week's holiday despite the very cold and wet weather.

Only issue was opening the keysafe was very stiff.

The property itself was fine, however it was unacceptable that we had to drag our suitcases etc.

halfway round the property to the entrance through very long and wet grass. There is no proper pathway around this property. The actual site is very run down with unkept driveway which is very rough with lots of potholes. The general appearance of the whole site is one of neglect and not very welcoming.

A comfortable, clean and well equipped cottage.

Good heating and plenty of hot water.

Nice position.

Clean and well equipped. Good sized kitchen. Off season it was very quiet as the two neighbouring cottages were empty, maybe different in the school holidays! The access was muddy and dark, so a torch is essential in the winter months. I found the bedroom very cold and had to use an extra duvet from another bed in addition to the duvet provided. I couldn't find any other extra bedding. The heating was on, but overnight the temperature dropped rapidly. Also, the pillows are very bulky so I used a pillowcase over a cushion from the living room.

Impressed with the kitchen at Keepers Cottage, as we were between houses this was much appreciated.

The view made our stay top notch too. The place was warm, good modern bathroom facilities. We didn't want to leave!

The cottage was in a good location easily accessible with parking close by.

It was very well presented modern, clean and comfortable, the kitchen was also well equipped. You will need a car to get out and about although the Donkey Sanctuary is only down the road. We would have no hesitation in recommending this property to others.

Wonderful property and superb location.

So many good points. If I were to be picky I would ask for some tongs and oven gloves for the kitchen. The main bedroom bed is great but the mattresses in the single bedrooms could do with updating as not too comfortable. The heated towel rail is a godsend, albeit small, it is so handy to have. Washing machine, dishwasher, microwave all excellent plus points. Spacious open living with plenty of room for a large dog crate. Perfect for a family of 3 and a large puppy!

Excellent location.

Cottage has everything you need for a comfortable stay.

A super cottage in an ideal location to explore the Jurassic Coast and South West coast path.

Lovely open plan living area with excellent kitchen facilities and dining area. Great storage space and two fridges for groceries. A quiet location with lovely views.

Lovely peaceful setting.

Cottage brilliant apart from cobwebs and dust. Maybe some seat cushions for outside chairs but hard on the exterior

The bathroom floor was not very clean and the oven was also a bit grubby.

The bedding was not great and I did find a hair on the sheet before I used it. Maybe it was from the cleaner, I hope.

This is a lovely cottage, that is comfortable, well kitted out and has a wonderful view over a large grassy area and the sea.

Even better, you can sometimes see the donkeys from the nearby Donkey Sanctuary. We no longer have young children but the grassy area would be a wonderful safe and car-free place for children to play. Our dog was also very happy there. Sidmouth is a great find! We loved it. It's a 5 or 6 minute drive but there is so much to enjoy there.

Lovely, very well equipped and stylish cottage.

The view out of the patio doors at the front of the cottage is just perfect for privacy (i.e. not overlooked) and looks out onto a lush, green lawn and then the sea just beyond (the reason we chose the cottage) and the pleasant verandah is well placed for relaxing at the end of the day. We had everything that we needed for a comfortable stay. The October weather was predictably changeable and quite cold on occasions, so it was reassuring to be able to return from our day trips to a cosy and toasty warm cottage. We loved visiting the neighbouring Donkey Sanctuary, which was a pleasant surprise (as we didn't know about it before our visit). The owners recommended going for brunch in the Donkey Sanctuary restaurant in their local information folder and so we decided to try and really enjoyed the freshly prepared meal we had there, as well as the view. Sidmouth town centre and pebble beach was pleasant, but Weston beach was our favourite, although access to it does involve quite a steep and challenging walk. We would highly recommend the cottage and its location.

Lovely location for walking.

Towels were soft and fluffy Thank you

We love Sidmouth and Keepers Cottage was perfect for our week's holiday.

The location is perfect, as is the uninterrupted view. The cottage is clean and well equipped, with lovely comfortable beds. We especially loved the open-plan layout with kitchen island. Our beloved dog, Belle, enjoyed it too! 10/10 from us! :-)

Fabulous location for scenery and walking

Father 91 this month.

I have mobility issues following Guillain Barre and awaiting new hip. Therefore steps up to property difficult. Couldn’t recharge father’s electric scooter as couldn’t lift it up steps. Shower would have been preferable as bath high to climb into. Lovely property. Wonderful view. Disappointed couldn’t let dog off lead on land in front of property. Thank you so much to other property occupiers who helped when my father collapsed. Enjoyed stay very much. Thank You.

Lovely Holiday home a little overpriced but lovely and quiet, home was clean and had everything we needed , the village itself is in a sorry state which is a pity , close to sidmouth beach , lovely little village with lovely shops,

We had a fantastic break and were impressed by the situation of the property, its cleanliness, facilities and wonderful views.

A very relaxing few days after 6 months of shielding.

Site was a little tired with no-one around but our accommodation was brilliant.

Would be really useful to have details of local walks from site included in cottage.

It’s a lovely cottage.

Just right for our little family. Great base to explore the Jurassic coast. We would love to return one day.

The chalet itself was clean, bright and well equipped.

However, you have to walk on long/wet grass to reach the front-door. Unfortunately, it is sited within a rather run-down holiday park (with empty premises), which detracts from the overall quality of the accommodation.

The cottage was lovely and cosy.

All facilities there as mentioned, beautiful costal walks and plenty of places to visit

Property did not disappoint at all, facilities were excellent- view is beautiful out across the balcony.

B day were very comfortable and kitchen well equipped- Only slight down side is the surrounding properties are a little scruffy in comparison. However, this would not put me off returning at all.

Keepers cottage was excellent, very clean and modern.

The only drawback was there were no facilities. The reception was closed, the clubhouse was derelict and the swimming pool was just a heap of rubble . Many of the cottages were in need of some TLC. All in all apart from those comments we had a nice rest.

Although the accommodation was lovely and dog friendly the area surrounding it wasn’t and dog had to be kept on lead.

Reception not open and looks as though it hadn’t been in use in years. “Village” is very run down and tired looking.

Whilst the lodge was good we were disappointed with the overall condition of the rest of the area which was untidy and unkempt.

The Keepers Cottage was a great place to stay and call home while attending donkey week.

Thank you

While the property itself was good the site was looking very "tired".

The grass was in need of being cut and the whole site look somewhat run down. While we completely understand that there are rules within the property regarding having a dog, the details did not include the restrictions imposed by the site rules. The facilities for drying clothes were in-adequate as there were instructions not to dry them indoors, due to condensation, and there wasn't a tumble dryer or external clothes line that could be used as an alternative. This bungalow had in the past won awards for being luxurious but the bed linen was of poor quality and the quilt cover was not the right size for the quilt. All in all it wasn't of the standard that we had come to expect when we booked through "Helpful Holidays"

It was extremely easy to book a short break away with Skye Cottages, I couldn't believe how simple the process was.

Straight away the email confirmation giving directions, instructions and contact details made it very clear on where we were going. Thank you, will definitely use and recommend Skye Cottages in the future.

Enjoyed it The property is ideally located in a nice quiet area with easy access to some lovely towns and resorts We must come back to this part of Devon in the summer.

we enjoyed the peace and surrounding country side weather was a bit dampish and windy but we were out and about a restful break after my wife`s operation

It had a great view of the sea which was much better than we expected and it is just a stone's throw away from the donkey sanctuary.

We enjoyed seeing (and hearing!) them in the early evening as we watched the sun go down. It was very peaceful. The cottage itself was lovely, very spacious and comfortable. The facilities are good. The bed was comfortable and clean but the rest of the cottage could be cleaner. On the plus side at night you can switch off the lights and sit on the sofa and look at the stars above through the skylight!

The rather uncomfortable double bed, every thing else was lovely

We loved the cottage which is modern and very clean.

The owner has furnished the bungalow well and there is everything you need. Yes the site itself is a little tired in places but the cottage boast lovely views and out of season for us was a very quiet week. The weather obviously helps and it was glorious. A couple of things that we found which need a mention. By omission the cottage does not stand on its own and is part of a block. The photograph suggests otherwise. The biggest issue is the veranda which is joined to the one next door and is not secure so we had to block this off to stop our dog going elsewhere. That really is misleading. Also as is mentioned in the guest book several times the double mattress is amazingly uncomfortable , to the point we had to move into the other room, which actually wasn't much better. The mattress's need updating asap because if you have any back issues this would make comfortable sleeping nigh on impossible.

nice cottage shame about rest very nice cottage nice and clean apart from a few cobwebs top of walls at the back end .

the back grass in photos shows all cut and trim but was very over grown with thistles in and very long not good for our pet schnauzer. also in photos shows to be a single cottage but was in a block of four found this very misleading also with no gate between other cottages decking areas so could not let dog out in evening with us. was led to believe there was a walk to the sea from back of the property but was told to over grown gates locked also the reception when you enter the site looks like a building site a mess and has been left unfinished for over 3 years and the sea view is not great as trees need to be chopped down a bit . but the cottage was nice inside and ok Show less

Most enjoyable relaxing holiday peaceful site very clean.

Although the cottage was first class and spotless, the surrounding left something to be desired.

..the reception area has been closed and unfinished for three years and was in a filthy state. The photo of the cottage showed it to be detached but was the middle of a block of three and although the grass in front of the cottage was cut the surrounding area's were overgrown and untidy. We couldn't fault the cottage itself

We arrived at Keepers Cottage on Saturday 17 March and were immediately impressed with the location of the chalet/cottage within the holiday park.

...a wonderful expanse of field directly outside the chalet which our dog needed no encouragement to explore. An awesome view of the surrounding countryside and sea made for a perfect setting. The chalet itself (definitely more of a chalet than a cottage) was lovely! Spacious, very nicely furnished and immaculately clean. Great layout with sitting room, dining area and kitchen all in one open plan unit and two very comfortable bedrooms and modern bathroom off this area. Great heating, so lovely and warm and powerful shower over bath in the bathroom. The kitchen was equipped with everything you could want, with a modern oven, hob, microwave, toaster, kettle and an assortment of cooking pots, pans and dishes. Nothing left wanting! The Reception at the holiday park was closed when we were there, so can't comment and the park was quiet, but would imagine it will be busier around Easter. Unfortunately we were snowed in most of our break, so didn't get to explore much of the surrounding area that you couldn't reach on foot in deep snow, but Sidford & Sidmouth were lovely and very picturesque. Great dog walking territory and a lot of hill climbing! The very heavy snow, marred our stay a little, but we couldn't have wanted warmer, more welcoming accomodation to return to; very impressed with Keepers Cottage, would recommend.

This is a copy of my email I sent to the owner on my return:- Today we have returned home after spending a week in your property as detailed above.

The days before leaving were spent watching the snow and wondering if we would be able to make the journey but, luckily, we were able to arrive on the Sunday as booked. On walking through the door we were delighted with the sight before us. Everything looked immaculate but without losing that homely feel. Pleasant touches such as the tray of tea, coffee and biscuits; the folder with information we may need (including post codes for the shops); the brochures in the coffee table drawer ..... I could go on. Basically, what I am trying to say is that we had a thoroughly enjoyable break spending time at Sidmouth, Seaton, Lyme Regis, and of course visits to the Donkey Sanctuary on several occasions where we always received a warm welcome. So, thank you very much for giving us the chance to have the use of your property which must give you much joy.